Flashback Talorin becomes a man

[Talorin Ki]

58th day of fall 512

Talorin stepped out of the employment office into the bright sunshine. He began walking the streets looking at the people and thinking how proud his father would have been that he mustered up his own courage and was doing things for himself and by himself. This brought on a memory of the first time he felt like a real man.




Fall 506


It was another fight in the Ki household. Talorin now 10 wanted to accompany the men to the fields for harvest day. Most of the men from the little farming village went to the fields and worked day and night for five days to harvest as much as they can in as short a time as possible. Talorin was never allowed to go. His older brother Torin, now a young man of 16 had been going since he was a stout lad of 7, but Torin was man sized, Talorin was still the size of a small boy and it looked as if the gods were not going to grant him any more growth. Still, like every year since, Talorin was protesting his virtues and abilities not only to his father, but this time to Lark, the town elder in charge of this years harvest.

"Come on Mr. Lark, I know I can be of help." Talorin whined

"I'm sorry young one, you aren't big enought to help with the harvest. Shoot the grains are taller than you. We would loose you in the fields in a matter of moments and a horse or other worker would trample your small body." The older man replied.

Talorin's hopeful eyes dropped at these words. Once again he was being made fun of over his size, this time by an adult. After a moment of checking his self worth, Talorin turned with what dignity he had and returned to the home of his father, at least he walked off in that direction. As soon as the older men were no longer paying him any attention, Talorin darted around a building and came back to the meeting place, but this time he remained unseen. By hiding in the shadows none of the men took any notice. Shortly after the 40 men took off for the 5 mile hike to the campsite that would house them for the next week. Talorin stalked behind them. None of them ever looked back, this was easier than Talorin thought. Upon arrival the men started making camp at the site, there were fires laid, bed rolls formed, and a lot of comraderie. Talorin settled himself just outside the campsite and waited patiently for the right moment.

"When you get there the men will start setting up camp, then after dark they will start drinking and telling stories," Torin told his brother the day before, "Give them time to be well into their ale, when you stumble in. They will be too far into their fun that they won't say anything to you, and if they do, don't worry. There is no way they will send a runt like you back to town after dark on your own."

So, Talorin just sat and waited. Just like his brother told him the men finished prepping the campsite, and immediately someone broke out a bottle of ale. This got everyone else going and there was drinking, eating, story telling, and laughing going through out the camp. After a good wait for them all to get good and toasty, Talorin steps out.

"Can I get you a refill father?"

"Sure can son.........wait why are you here?" was the response.

"Don't you remember, you said I could come and watch after the campsite while you guys worked during the day" Talorin lied.

Talorin's father scratched his head and thought something wasn't right. He looked at his son, then called over Torin.

"Torin, tomorrow you will take your LITTLE (Emphasis on little) brother back home."

"Yes, sir"

Talorin's smile and excitement immediately died upon hearing those words.

"Randin," one of the other men called out, "Why don't you allow the boy to stay and mind the campsite, he can cook and keep things organized, so we don't have to worry about it while we work."

Talorin's father Ranin thought about it for a moment or two.

"Fine, boy, you will keep the campsite clean, the fires tended, I want breakfast ready by sun up and dinner ready by sun down. It is your responsibility to make sure this happens. If you mess up once I will whip you so bad you won't be able to sit until next season, after you walk home by yourself."

"Thank you father, I won't let you down." was Talorin's immediate reply.

His father went back to drinking and playing games of chance with the other men, talking about previous harvests, and the days to come. Talorin went over to the man who stood up for him to tell him thank you, then retired for the evening under a thin blanket he had brought with him.





The week went by uneventfully. Talorin kept his word and had breakfast and dinner ready on time, and suprisingly had snacks ready for the men to take to the fields with them. He spent his day tidying up the campsite and his evenings sitting around the campfire listening to the men talk of olden days. Telling stories, most of them out right lies, but Talorin took it all in. Finally the week came to an end, and the fields were all harvested. The men broke camp and began the long trek back home to the wives and families they left.

"You did good son, I look forward to you joining us next year," Randin said while holding his son in a fatherly embrace.

Talorin just smiled. He felt more like a man today than ever before.